New research commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and conducted by the University of Newcastle in Australia found results that could be cause for concern.

The research compiled 52 studies investigating the plastic ingestion and found that on average, people around the world ingest about 2,000 microplastic particles a week. Microplastics are tiny, microscopic plastic particles that are present in the air, water, and our food. The research also found that the largest source of ingesting microplastics was via drinking water.

Microplastics have been detected in marine life and other animals, which are in turn, ingested by humans. Co-lead researcher, Kala Senathirajah, told CNN,

“It is very clear that the issue of microplastics is a global one. Even if countries clean up their backyard, it doesn’t mean they will be safe as those [microplastic] particles could be entering from other sources.”

Upon analysing existing studies, the research, titled ‘No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People’ found that humans may be ingesting an average of 5 grams of microplastics per week. This amount of plastic is equivalent to a credit card.